Search

News

England in India: A brief history, Part

A look at bilateral series between India and England, on Indian soil, between 1992-92 and 2010-11.

Since 1933, England have toured India 14 times for bilateral series with an overall record of 24 wins from 88 international matches in all formats (there has been just one Twenty20 international played between the two sides in India).

Ahead of a four-Test series starting November 15 in Ahmedabad, we take a look back at previous bilateral series between the two teams on Indian soil. Today, the third part – from 1992-93 to 2010-11.

1992-93 – India won the Tests 3-0; ODIs tied 3-3

India, this time led by Azharuddin, extracted revenge on England with a clean sweep in the Test series. England’s batsmen struggled against India’s spinners, with Anil Kumble taking 21 wickets and Venkatapathy Raju 16. Azharuddin led from the front at Eden Gardens with 182 out of India’s 371 in the first innings and then it was over to the spinners who bowled England out for 163 and 286. Victory was achieved by eight wickets.

The ODIs were more keenly contested. After abandonment in Ahmedabad, the series was leveled at 1-1 before the Tests began. Upon resumption, England made it 3-1 with emphatic wins in Jamshedpur and Bangalore but the hosts scraped to narrow wins in Gwalior to draw level at three apiece.

England flew home for the Christmas period and returned for six ODIs. After winning the second match to level the scores, England appeared to be heading for more misery after India won in Chennai and Kanpur. But then Giles turned the table in Delhi with a match-winning spell of 5 for 9 in 20 deliveries as England won by two runs, and in the final match in Mumbai the tourists pulled off a thrilling five-run victory under the floodlights. Andrew Flintoff’s shirtless celebrations remained the lasting image of that engaging ODI contest.

That it came from England was hard for many to envision, but a dramatic final-day collapse of 7 for 25 in the afternoon session meant India had squandered their lead and England had ended a 21-year winless streak in the country emphatically. Flintoff’s side was simply too good for India in the match, right from the time they made 270 for 3 on the first day until Munaf became Shaun Udal’s fourth wicket on the fifth.

The ODIs were a different story. India, on the might of their superior batting, won the first four matches and made it 5-1 with an easy win in the seventh game in Indore.

2008-09 – India won the Tests 1-0; ODIs 5-0

England’s next visit was almost cancelled after the horrific terrorist attacks in Mumbai, but a strong message from their captain Andrew Strauss saw the team return for the Test leg. India had the upper hand with a 5-0 ODI whitewash before the last two matches were called off – with Yuvraj Singh dominating England imperiously – and this was channeled into the Tests. Strauss was head and shoulders above his batting team-mates in Chennai with twin centuries, but his decision to set India a daunting 387 backfired as Virender Sehwag launched a stunning assault on the fourth evening. This was followed by an unbeaten 163-run stand between Tendulkar and Yuvraj to complete a famous six-wicket win by chasing down the fourth-highest total in Test cricket.

The setting then moved to cold and foggy Mohali, where there was not enough time for a result. Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid hit centuries for India – the latter’s ending a prolonged run of poor form – and for England it was Kevin Pietersen who dazzled amid the gloom with a stroke-laced 144.

2010-11 – India won the ODIs 5-0; England the one-off T20

Just weeks after drubbing India in all formats in a wretchedly one-sided summer, England landed in India for an odd limited-overs series. India, much more comfortable in familiar conditions, promptly lifted their spirits with a series sweep in the ODIs. England were all too keen to get home, and winning the one-off Twenty20 international by six wickets put a semblance of a smile on their faces.